Vehicle-bolster



(No Model.) H C. l'. BETTMANN, JI'.

VEHICLE BOLSATER.

No. 534,386. 4Patented Feb. 19, 1895.

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vEH'lcLE-BOLSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 534,386, dated February 19, 1895 Application filed .Tune 14, 1894. Serial No. 514,614. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FREDRIO BETTMANN, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Bolster, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle bolsters.

The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle bolster having standards, adapted to be moved inward and outward on it to vary the distancebetween them, to enable a Wagon bed to be readily placed on and removed from the running gear, to accommodate the latter to wagon bodies of different Widths, and to enable a load of lumber, or the like to be placed on the running gear, and securely clamped by the standards.

A further object of the invention is to fa-v cilitate the placingof wagon beds on their running gear to enable them to be readily brought into position by sliding them on the running gear from the rear end thereof, and to avoid the labor and inconvenience incident to lifting a Wagon bed over the running gear and lowering it between the standards thereof.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of a bolsterconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view ot' the-same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a detail perspective view of the bearing block. Fig. 5 is a similar View of one of the standards.

Like numerals of reference'indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- 1ngs.

1 designates a vehicle bolster, designed to be mounted on a running gear in the usual manner, and provided in its upper face or edge with a longitudinal concaved groove 2, and having secured to its upper face at opposite sides of the groove dat longitudinal bars 3, which project inward over the groove, and form over-hanging edges, and provide between the same a longitudinal slot commuthe central portion ot' the rod, which is notthreaded and smooth; and it is provided with a transverse vgroove l2 receiving a collar 13 of the rod, whereby the latter is swiveled, and is held against longitudinal movement in the groove of the bolster.

The L-shaped standards have their horizontal portions 14., arranged in the groove beneath the overhanging edges of the bars 3, and lthey are provided at their inner terminals with depending lugs 15, which are perforated and threaded to form the said threaded openings for the rod. At the base of its vertical portion, each standard is provided with opposite horizontal slots 16 receiving the projecting edges ofthe bars 3, whereby thestandard is slidingly mounted on the bolster out of contact with the operating rod except at the lug.

One end of the operating rod is squared to receive a crank, Wrench or similar tool, whereby the rod may be rotated to move the stand ards on the bolster to vary the distance between themv to accommodate dilerent sizes of Wagon beds, to securely clamp the same, or to clamp a load securely on the running gear of a vehicle, after the body has been-removed. A

It will be readily apparent that the standards may be adjusted on the bolster to accommodate wagon beds of different sizes, to securely clamp the same or loads placed on a running gear without the body. It will also be seen that the means for operating the standards are positive and reliable, and that they greatly facilitate the operation of placing a bed on its running gear, andthat they avoid the necessity of hoisting the bed above the running gear and lowering it between the standards.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted IOO to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of a bolster provided in its upper face with a longitudinal groove, bars secured to the upper face of lthe bolster and projecting inward over the groove at opposite sides thereof and forming a slot, standards slidingly mounted on the bars and provided with threaded openings, and the operating rod swiveled in the groove of the bolster and having oppositely threaded portions engaging the threaded openings ofthe standards, whereby the latter are moved longitudinally of the bolster, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a bolster provided in its upper face with a longitudinal groove,

metal bars secured tothe bolster at opposite zo openings engaging the threaded portions of 5o the rod, substantially as described. U

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES FREDRICK BETTMANN, Jn. lVitnesses:

DENNIS GLEAsoN, WILLIAM BETTMANN. 

